As the world is thrown into turmoil by the Covid-19 crisis, it seems as though everything else has been put on hold. It is, of course, essential to direct resources towards saving lives and solving this crisis as soon as possible.
However, the response to the pandemic should not be detached from the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The pandemic will affect vulnerable societies the most, so we have a responsibility to uphold these standards in order to support them and continue to make the world a better place. Sustainability and the SDGs are in fact a vital part of the fight against this pandemic.
Although primarily high-income countries have been hit so far, this is a global crisis and will have widespread repercussions. It has exposed weaknesses in our system: low access to healthcare, education, and the prevalence of poverty will make the crisis even more damaging.
By working together to make the world a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous place, we will be in a much better position to take on global challenges.
For example, reaching SDG 3 (Good Health) will strengthen our global response to infectious diseases, SDG 6 (Clean Water) can help limit the spread, and SDG 4 (Quality Education) is vital to improving our knowledge of pandemics.
Moreover, high levels of poverty (SDG 1), economic insecurity (SDG 8), inequality (SDG 10), and lack of food security (SDG 2) are just a few examples of issues that both exacerbate and are exacerbated by the crisis.
As the world fights this pandemic, let’s not forget the importance of the SDGs and the role they can play in making the world a better, healthier, and more prosperous place. By cooperating, building communities, and coming together around stories that matter, we can all make a difference.
Community and sustainability are more important than ever. Head over to Livetree to find out how we can help your brand build a community around your sustainability initiatives, and make a real impact.
